the city or town that is the official seat of government in a country, state, etc.: Tokyo is the capital of Japan.
a city regarded as being of special eminence in some field of activity: New York is the dance capital of the world.
capital letter.
the wealth, whether in money or property, owned or employed in business by an individual, firm, corporation, etc.
an accumulated stock of such wealth.
any form of wealth employed or capable of being employed in the production of more wealth.
Accounting.
assets remaining after deduction of liabilities; the net worth of a business.
the ownership interest in a business.
any source of profit, advantage, power, etc.; an asset or assets (usually used in combination): He has the political capital to push through the legislation. His indefatigable drive is his greatest capital.
capitalists as a group or class (distinguished from labor): High taxation has reduced the spending power of capital.
adjective
pertaining to financial capital: capital stock.
principal; highly important: This guide offers suggestions of capital interest to travelers.
chief, especially as being the official seat of government of a country, state, etc.: the capital city of France.
excellent or first-rate: a capital hotel; a capital fellow.
capital letter.
involving the loss of life: capital punishment.
punishable by death: a capital crime; a capital offender.
fatal; extremely serious: a capital error.
Origin of capital
1
First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English; (adjective) from Anglo-French or directly from Latin capitālis “of the head” (capit-, stem of caput “head” + -ālis adjective suffix; see -al1); (noun) from Medieval Latin capitāle “wealth,” noun use of neuter of the adjective capitālis
SYNONYMS FOR capital
4 principal, investment, assets, stock.
11 prime, primary, first.
SEE SYNONYMS FOR capital ON THESAURUS.COM
ANTONYMS FOR capital
11 trivial, minor.
SEE ANTONYMS FOR capital ON THESAURUS.COM
synonym study for capital
11. The adjectives capital,chief,major,principal apply to a main or leading representative of a kind. Capital may mean larger or more prominent; it may also suggest preeminence or excellence: capital letter, idea, virtue, etc. Chief means leading, highest in office or power: the chief clerk.Major may refer to greatness of importance, number, or quantity: a major operation, the major part of a population.Principal refers to most distinguished, influential, or foremost: principal officer.
words often confused with capital
The noun capital1 refers to a city or town that is the seat of government; to a capital letter as opposed to a lowercase letter; and to wealth or resources. The noun Capitol refers primarily to the building in Washington, D.C., in which Congress sits or to similar buildings used by state legislatures.
OTHER WORDS FROM capital
cap·i·tal·ness,noun
WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH capital
capital , Capitol (see confusables note at the current entry)
Words nearby capital
capillatus, capillus, cap in hand, capistration, capita, capital, capital account, capital allowance, capital asset, capital assets, capital budget
Definition for capital (2 of 2)
capital2
[ kap-i-tl ]
/ ˈkæp ɪ tl /
nounArchitecture.
the distinctively treated upper end of a column, pier, or the like.
Origin of capital
2
1250–1300; Middle English capitale head (noun use of neuter of Latin adj.) for Latin capitellum, equivalent to capit- (stem of caput) head + -ellum diminutive suffix
Amazon on Thursday announced the first companies to receive money from a $2 billion venture capital fund it formed to help combat climate change.
Podcast: Amazon exec on the company's Climate Pledge Fund|Dan Primack|September 17, 2020|Axios
That’s been the pattern for other recent high-profile, venture-capital backed IPOs.
Investors in Snowflake’s IPO should prepare for a second-day slump|Oliver Staley|September 17, 2020|Quartz
This capital has helped to de-risk the fund’s investments, allowing it the flexibility to invest in firms that banks might turn away.
Opportunity Zones haven’t fully reached their potential, but don’t write them off yet|jakemeth|September 16, 2020|Fortune
So the 11% drop in the valuation would leave investors with a 1% annual capital gain.
Will tech stocks stumble or slide? What the fundamentals tell us|Shawn Tully|September 16, 2020|Fortune
Those arrangements offer businesses more flexibility with their capital.
‘Square is a beast’|Jeff|September 16, 2020|Fortune
Gunshots rang out in Paris this morning on a second day of deadly violence that has stunned the French capital.
France Mourns—and Hunts|Nico Hines, Christopher Dickey|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The mistletoe must have been hanging right across the aisle on Capital Hill.
Congress’ Gift That Keeps on Giving|P. J. O’Rourke|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The second major split between the capital and the court occurred over oral care.
The French Court’s Royal Ban on Smiles|William O’Connor|December 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And the capital city is a veritable utopia of acceptance and integration.
The Ultimate LGBT Travel Bucket List||December 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
One of his projects resulted in a new road from Khartoum, the capital of Sudan, to the monuments at Meroe.
Egypt Ain’t The Only Pyramid Show In Town|Nina Strochlic|December 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The capital of the kingdom of Lilliput appeared to be partially surrounded by a vast and melancholy campagna of turnips.
The Catholic World; Volume I, Issues 1-6|E. Rameur
It placed a little capital at his disposal, and capital is the one thing needed to make a fair start in anything in this country.
Rogues and Vagabonds|George R. Sims
Crossing the square where the Tacon theatre and circus stand, I wander through the narrow, ill-paved streets of the Cuban capital.
The Pearl of the Antilles, or An Artist in Cuba|Walter Goodman
You made some capital shots, though, and if I hadn't been so lucky, you would have come out the victor in every game.
Making His Way|Horatio Alger, Jr.
On each leaf stood a row of capital letters, every one having a small letter by its side.
Hans Andersen's Fairy Tales|Hans Christian Andersen
British Dictionary definitions for capital (1 of 2)
capital1
/ (ˈkæpɪtəl) /
noun
the seat of government of a country or other political unit
(as modifier)a capital city
material wealth owned by an individual or business enterprise
wealth available for or capable of use in the production of further wealth, as by industrial investment
make capital oformake capital out ofto get advantage from
(sometimes capital)the capitalist class or their interestscapital versus labour
accounting
the ownership interests of a business as represented by the excess of assets over liabilities
the nominal value of the authorized or issued shares
(as modifier)capital issues
any assets or resources, esp when used to gain profit or advantage
a capital letterAbbreviation: cap., cap
(as modifier)capital B
with a capital letter(used to give emphasis to a statement)he is mean with a capital M
adjective
(prenominal)lawinvolving or punishable by deatha capital offence
very serious; fatala capital error
primary, chief, or principalour capital concern is that everyone be fed
of, relating to, or designating the large modern majuscule letter used chiefly as the initial letter in personal names and place names and other uniquely specificatory nouns, and often for abbreviations and acronymsCompare small (def. 9) See also upper case
mainlyBritishexcellent; first-ratea capital idea
Word Origin for capital
C13: from Latin capitālis (adj) concerning the head, chief, from caput head; compare Medieval Latin capitāle (n) wealth, from capitālis (adj)
British Dictionary definitions for capital (2 of 2)
capital2
/ (ˈkæpɪtəl) /
noun
the upper part of a column or pier that supports the entablatureAlso called: chapiter, cap
Word Origin for capital
C14: from Old French capitel, from Late Latin capitellum, diminutive of caput head
“Capital” vs. “Capitol” : Do You Know Where You’re Going?The difference between a city and a building comes down to one letter. Think you know which one is "capitol" and which is "capital"?
The form of the capital often serves to distinguish one style of architecture from another. For example, the Corinthian, Doric, and Ionic styles of Greek architecture all have different capitals.
Cultural definitions for capital (2 of 2)
capital
Money used to finance the purchase of the means of production, such as machines, or the machines themselves.